2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualification (AFC) explained

Tourney Name:	FIFA Futsal World Cup qualification (AFC)
Year:	2021
Dates:	^[1]
Country:	United Arab Emirates
Num Teams:	4
Confederations:	1
Venues:	1
Cities:	1
Matches:	4
Goals:	15

The Asian qualifying competition for 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup was an extraordinary men's futsal competition that determines two of the five national teams which are members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) playing in the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania, which was originally scheduled to be held in 2020 but postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2]

The matches were played at the neutral venue of Khorfakkan Futsal Club Hall in Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates between 20 and 25 May 2021.^[3]

Format

The five AFC teams playing in the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup would originally be determined by the 2020 AFC Futsal Championship, with the top five teams qualifying. Following the cancellation of the championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AFC announced on 21 April 2021 that they agreed to two sets of criteria of establishing the AFC representatives for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup. The first criterion took reference from the top five teams of the most recent edition (2018), while the second criterion applied a point system which calculates the top five teams from the overall ranking of the last three editions of the AFC Futsal Championship (2014, 2016, 2018).

The top five teams for 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup Asian qualifying in each criterion

Based on the most recent edition width=210 Team ! Rank 1 2 3 4 5

Based on the last three editions width=210 Team ! Rank 1 2 3 4 5

Based on the results of combined criteria, the top three recurring teams (Iran, Japan, and Uzbekistan) were directly nominated as the AFC representatives for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Additionally, the four remaining teams: Iraq (although had not qualified for the 2020 AFC Futsal Championship formerly), Lebanon, Thailand, and Vietnam would play play-off matches over two legs. The two winners would qualify for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Although all matches were eventually played at a neutral venue, the away goals rule would still be applied.

Draw

The draw was held on 27 April 2021, 16:00 MST (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Summary

The first legs were played on 20 and 23 May, and the second legs on 25 May 2021.

Matches

Thailand won 11–2 on aggregate and qualified for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup.----1–1 on aggregate. Vietnam won on away goals and qualified for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Qualified teams for FIFA Futsal World Cup

The following five teams from AFC qualify for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Team	Qualified on	data-sort-type="number"	Previous appearances in FIFA Futsal World Cup^1
	^[4]	7 (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
		4 (1989, 2004, 2008, 2012)
		1 (2016)
	^[5]	5 (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
		1 (2016)

¹ Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

See also

• 2020 AFC Futsal Championship

External links

• FIFA Futsal World Cup, the-AFC.com
• FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021, stats.the-AFC.com

Notes and References

1. Web site: matches for FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021 revealed. the-afc.com. 27 April 2021. 28 April 2021.
2. Web site: Latest update on AFC representatives for upcoming FIFA competitions. AFC. the-AFC.com. 21 April 2021. 28 April 2021.
3. Web site: Thailand, Vietnam in the way as Iraq, Lebanon seek debut appearances in FIFA Futsal World Cup. AFC. 19 May 2021.
4. Web site: AFC nominate three teams for Lithuania 2021. FIFA.com. 21 April 2021.
5. Web site: Thailand and Vietnam complete World Cup line-up. FIFA.com. 26 May 2021.